I chose Celestial Dragon for a variety of reasons (many of which you will understand if you go see the movie I am reviewing today). It will take entirely too long to explain all those reasons so just go see the movie and find out for yourself!-
Who would have thought that the first “must see” movie of Summer 2008 was Kung Fu Panda? Frankly, the ads didn’t give me a lot of hope for anything other than a cute kids movie--boy was I wrong! Kung Fu Panda might just be this year’s “perfect” summer movie! (Of course Will Smith’s latest hasn’t bowed yet so who knows?)
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Yes, you’ve seen this story before--lovable loser embraces his weakness to achieve a “Great Destiny”. This time they add the twist that the lovable loser will also bring peace to his master. Plot-wise there are no revelations but the script saves this movie from utter pedantry: it offers a near-perfect balance of action, comedy, sweetness and self-discovery.
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Jack Black is the perfect voice for Po. (There are few Actors who could make a line like “legends tell us of a legendary warrior who’s Kung Fu skills were the stuff of legend” and make us appreciate it. The movie’s entire fate rests of his shoulders and he rises to the occasion. Dustin Hoffman voices Master Shifu (a “Red Panda”) makes us believe his transformation from bitter leader to fatherly friend. Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen and David Cross gives voice to the “Furious Five”--Shifu’s prized students. (They aren‘t given much to do--one of the few “down“ sides of the movie.) Ian McShane is the villainous Snow Leopard Tai Lung (with serious “father issues”). Randall Duk Kim is the ancient turtle Oogway (what an oddly non-Chinese name!) who serves as a combo Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
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The rendering is beautifully cinematic with a colorful palette and amazing artistically touches. Scenes move seamlessly from intimate to epic with nary a misstep anywhere. The many Kung Fu battles are as artfully-done as anything a Martial Arts fan could see in a live-action flick. (The battle over a dumpling is a definite “must see” for any movie fan.) I watched a bit of AntZ and was amazed to see how much computer animation has advanced in ten years.
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Kung Fu Panda is the rarest of movies that offers something for the entire family. I saw the movie with a large crowd that had everything from “littles” to grandparents and everybody laughed. It’s not too long for the kiddies and there are enough jokes aimed at the older set to keep adults enthralled. There is no bad language or questionable content to upset “itty-bitties” and enough combat to satisfy the most-rabid action and adventure fans, There’s something for everyone except for romantic comedy devotees. I fully expect to see Kung Fu Panda at the Oscars (for “animated feature” of course).
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FINAL GRADE: A
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